The Ottawa Senators have placed veteran forward Zack Smith on waivers, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.The 30-year-old signed a four-year contract with the club in January 2017 and has three seasons remaining on his current deal at $3.25 million per season. If he clears waivers, he'll report to the AHL's Belleville Senators, which would give Ottawa just over $1 million in salary cap relief, per Cap Friendly.Smith registered five goals and 14 assists in 2017-18 while averaging over 16 minutes per night. With the recent Erik Karlsson trade, Smith stood as the longest-serving Senator, having played 542 games for the franchise since being drafted in the third round of the 2008 draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leading up to the start of the 2018-19 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by four of our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every weekday until the top 10 is unveiled on Oct. 3.100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-170. Frederik Andersen, Maple LeafsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman74667176Andersen was the busiest goalie in the league last season, serving as the backbone of the Toronto Maple Leafs and posting a career-high 38 wins to go along with a .918 save percentage in 66 starts. He'll need to maintain his strong play for the new-look Leafs to reach the next level as contenders. There's no reason to believe he can't. -- O'Leary69. Vincent Trocheck, PanthersWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman51756595Trocheck enjoyed a breakout season a year ago, collecting 31 goals and 75 points while centering the Florida Panthers' second line. He remains mostly an unknown commodity - part of which is due to playing for the small-market Panthers - but another stellar season could put him on the map as one of the league's craftiest centermen. -- Wegman68. Jeff Carter, KingsHarry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman75867545If not for an abrupt ankle injury last season, Carter may have hit his highest goal total in years. In just 27 games, he tallied 13 goals - putting him on pace to score 39 over 82 games, which would have served as his best mark since the 2008-09 season. He remains one of the elite shooters in the league and a near necessity for the Los Angeles Kings' offense. -- Hagerman67. Ivan Provorov, FlyersWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman66676972Provorov hit the 40-point plateau (41), ranked 20th in the league in average ice time and 10th in total ice time, and played in various situations while suiting up in all 82 games for the second time in as many seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers. That's pretty remarkable for a 21-year-old defenseman, whose stock is definitely on the rise. -- Gold-Smith66. Dougie Hamilton, HurricanesJana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman80606168Hamilton's 17 goals were tied for the league lead among defensemen last season, and his 21:32 of ice time per night was a new career best. He drives play at a rate among the game's most elite and is more than capable of shutting down an opponent's top line. It's truly hard to believe Hamilton has already been traded twice in his young career. -- O'Leary65. Rickard Rakell, DucksWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman77726253Rakell has seen his point total climb in each of the last three seasons. Last year, he paced the Anaheim Ducks with 34 goals and 69 points. He also led the team in shots, power-play goals, and power-play points. Continued progression could see him become the new face of the franchise. -- Hagerman64. Kris Letang, PenguinsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman40717082Letang might be reaching the tail end of his prime years, but he's still one of the game's elite offensive defensemen, reaching the 50-point mark in 2017-18 for the fourth time. Injuries have slowed him down a bit, but when healthy, he's workhorse, finishing in the top 10 in average ice time in four straight seasons. -- Wegman63. Brock Boeser, CanucksWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman59955051Boeser was lighting it up before a back injury put an end to his rookie season after 62 games, but he still led all qualified first-year NHLers in goals per game and finished second among the class to Kyle Connor in overall goals with 29, despite playing in 14 fewer contests. Boeser is a bona fide sniper who already looks more than comfortable at the NHL level. -- Gold-Smith62. Logan Couture, SharksThearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman55585879Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski have led the San Jose Sharks' offense for the better part of a decade, but while they've been piling up numbers, Couture has been neutralizing opposing top lines, serving as the team's matchup center. He's no one-way player, though, as he potted a career-high 34 goals last year. -- Wegman61. Zach Werenski, Blue JacketsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman64496075A shoulder injury hampered Werenski's game last season, but you'd hardly be able to tell by looking at his numbers. Playing on the Columbus Blue Jackets' top pair, he potted 16 goals - 13 coming at even strength - and added 21 assists. At only 21 years old, the 2015 eighth overall pick is on the fast track to superstardom. -- O'LearyCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens have reduced their training camp roster by four players.Tuesday's cuts include forward Nick Suzuki, who'll report to the OHL's Owen Sound Attack. Earlier this month, the Canadiens acquired Suzuki from the Vegas Golden Knights as part of a deal for former captain Max Pacioretty.The Canadiens also released veteran forward Joel Ward from his professional tryout offer. Defensemen Michal Moravcik and David Sklenicka have been assigned to the AHL's Laval Rocket.Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Montreal's first-round pick in 2018, is among the players remaining at training camp.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights have signed restricted free-agent defenseman Shea Theodore to a seven-year contract worth an average annual value of $5.2 million, the team announced.

Seattle City Council voted unanimously in favor of Oak View Group's proposed arena project, which could house the NHL's 32nd franchise, the Seattle ownership group announced Monday.The Seattle Center Arena project will see a $700-million renovation to KeyArena, which is now scheduled to break ground this fall."Today is a historic day for the future of our city and the New Arena at Seattle Center," OVG chief executive officer Tim Leiweke said. "We are one step closer to transforming an iconic landmark into a state-of-the-art arena that sets a new global standard at no risk to the City or taxpayers, while still preserving the soul, character, and honoring the Champions of an arena that has given Seattle so much."The news comes with OVG set to make its pitch to the NHL Board of Governors on Oct. 2 in New York City."Now it's time to go to work," Leiweke said. "Our team stands ready to begin the next phase of this process and we plan to continue to communicate with our neighborhood and city partners to mobilize towards construction and our groundbreaking. In our conversations with members in communities across Seattle and our region, it has been amazing to see the excitement around this project and we are anxious to take this next step towards making a dream a reality."While the pitch will be formally made to the NHL next week, a final decision from the league on whether it will grant Seattle an NHL franchise is not expected until at least December.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here are the top 200 skaters and goalies ranked in descending order based on their value in 10- or 12-team standard fantasy hockey leagues.CategoriesSkatersGoaliesGoalsWinsAssistsShutoutsPlus/minusGoals-against averagePower-play PointsSave percentagePenalty minutesShots on goalTop 200 (Standard)(Positional eligibility applies to Yahoo! leagues)RkPlayerTeamPos.1Connor McDavidEDMC2Nikita KucherovTBRW3Alex OvechkinWSHLW4Steven StamkosTBC5Nathan MacKinnonCOLC6Blake WheelerWPGC/RW7Sidney CrosbyPITC8Taylor HallNJLW9Brad MarchandBOSLW10Tyler SeguinDALC11John TavaresTORC12Evgeni MalkinPITC13Jamie BennDALC/LW14Auston MatthewsTORC15David PastrnakBOSRW16Patrick KaneCHIRW17Vladimir TarasenkoSTLRW18Andrei VasilevskiyTBG19Erik KarlssonSJD20Claude GirouxPHIC/LW21Patrik LaineWPGRW22Brent BurnsSJD23Jakub VoracekPHIRW24Connor HellebuyckWPGG25Victor HedmanTBD26Jack EichelBUFC27Sergei BobrovskyCLBG28Johnny GaudreauCGYLW29Phil KesselPITRW30Tuukka RaskBOSG31Braden HoltbyWSHG32Dustin ByfuglienWPGD33Anze KopitarLAC34Jonathan QuickLAG35Frederik AndersenTORG36P.K. SubbanNSHD37Shayne GostisbeherePHID38Evgeny KuznetsovWSHC39Mark ScheifeleWPGC40John KlingbergDALD41Mitchell MarnerTORRW42Matt MurrayPITG43Drew DoughtyLAD44Joe PavelskiSJC/RW45John CarlsonWSHD46John GibsonANAG47Artemi PanarinCLBLW48Seth JonesCLBD49Aleksander BarkovFLAC50Devan DubnykMING51Roman JosiNSHD52Ben BishopDALG53Patrice BergeronBOSC54Brock BoeserVANRW55Filip ForsbergNSHLW56Evander KaneSJLW57Leon DraisaitlEDMC/RW58Martin JonesSJG59Mikko RantanenCOLRW60Alexander RadulovDALRW61Marc-Andre FleuryVGKG62Torey KrugBOSD63Jonathan MarchessaultVGKC/LW64Patric HornqvistPITRW65Cam AtkinsonCLBRW66Logan CoutureSJC/LW67Ryan GetzlafANAC68Max PaciorettyVGKLW69Pekka RinneNSHG70Vincent TrocheckFLAC71Brayden SchennSTLC72Mathew BarzalNYIC73Rickard RakellANALW/RW74Sean MonahanCGYC75James van RiemsdykPHILW76Dougie HamiltonCARD77Mikhail SergachevTBD78Sebastian AhoCARC/LW79Wayne SimmondsPHIRW80Kris LetangPITD81Ilya KovalchukLARW82Nicklas BackstromWSHC83Sean CouturierPHIC84William KarlssonVGKC/LW85Viktor ArvidssonNSHRW86Tyson BarrieCOLD87Nikolaj EhlersWPGLW/RW88Carey PriceMONG89Clayton KellerARILW/RW90Kyle PalmieriNJRW91Brendan GallagherMONRW92Mark StoneOTTRW93Alex PietrangeloSTLD94Jake AllenSTLG95Mark GiordanoCGYD96Morgan RiellyTORD97Rasmus RistolainenBUFD98Mikael GranlundMINC/RW99Jeff SkinnerBUFLW100Oliver Ekman-LarssonARID101Matthew TkachukCGYLW102Jonathan HuberdeauFLALW103Cam TalbotEDMG104Keith YandleFLAD105William NylanderTORC/RW106Ivan ProvorovPHID107Jaden SchwartzSTLLW108Charlie McAvoyBOSD109Mike HoffmanFLALW/RW110Brayden PointTBC111Zach WerenskiCLBD112Jeff CarterLAC113Corey CrawfordCHIG114Antti RaantaARIG115Ryan EllisNSHD116Cory SchneiderNJG117Nico HischierNJC118Chris KreiderNYRLW119Teuvo TeravainenCARLW/RW120Dylan LarkinDETC121Gabriel LandeskogCOLLW122Mike SmithCGYG123Ryan SuterMIND124Aaron EkbladFLAD125Nick BjugstadFLAC/RW126Jonathan ToewsCHIC127Dustin BrownLALW/RW128Matt DumbaMIND129Tomas HertlSJC/LW/RW130Reilly SmithVGKLW/RW131James NealCGYRW132Roberto LuongoFLAG133Henrik LundqvistNYRG134Ryan JohansenNSHC135Alex GalchenyukARIC/LW136Semyon VarlamovCOLG137Carter HuttonBUFG138Jeff PetryMOND139Eric StaalMINC140T.J. OshieWSHRW141Kyle ConnorWPGLW142Colton ParaykoSTLD143Darnell NurseEDMD144Jason ZuckerMINLW/RW145Ryan O'ReillySTLC146Shea TheodoreVGKD147Philipp GrubauerCOLG148Matt DucheneOTTC149Rasmus DahlinBUFD150Justin FaulkCARD151Ryan Nugent-HopkinsEDMC/LW152Kevin ShattenkirkNYRD153Alex DeBrincatCHILW/RW154Jake MuzzinLAD155Jake GuentzelPITLW156Robin LehnerNYIG157Sam ReinhartBUFC/RW158Cam FowlerANAD159Oscar KlefbomEDMD160Thomas ChabotOTTD161Evgenii DadonovFLALW/RW162Pierre-Luc DuboisCLBC/LW163J.T. MillerTBC/RW164Kailer YamamotoEDMRW165Sami VatanenNJD166Anders LeeNYILW167Mika ZibanejadNYRC168Kevin FialaNSHLW/RW169Will ButcherNJD170Jacob TroubaWPGD171Bo HorvatVANC172Kyle TurrisNSHC173Anthony ManthaDETLW/RW174Derek StepanARIC175Pavel BuchnevichNYRRW176Travis KonecnyPHILW/RW177Jonathan DrouinMONC178Justin SchultzPITD179Josh BaileyNYIRW180Eeli TolvanenNSHRW181Elias PetterssonVANC182Nolan PatrickPHIC183Timo MeierSJLW184Nazem KadriTORC185Esa LindellDALD187Andrei SvechnikovCARRW188Scott DarlingCARG189Noah HanifinCGYD190Tyler ToffoliLARW191Juuse SarosNSHG192Craig AndersonOTTG193Mattias EkholmNSHD194Miro HeiskanenDALD195Valeri NichushkinDALRW196Jake DeBruskBOSLW197Tyson JostCOLC/LW198Jordan EberleNYIRW199Vince DunnSTLD200Mats ZuccarelloNYRRWCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders have signed defenseman Luca Sbisa to a one-year contract, the team announced Monday.The deal is reportedly worth $1.5 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Sbisa landed the contract after joining New York's training camp on a professional tryout offer.The 28-year-old spent last season with the Vegas Golden Knights, who claimed him from the Vancouver Canucks in the expansion draft. He tallied 14 points in 30 games in Las Vegas.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don't count on "Crow" being between the pipes for the Chicago Blackhawks in their first game of 2018-19.When asked whether starting netminder Corey Crawford will be ready in time for the Oct. 4 season opener against the Ottawa Senators, Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville said that may be "stretching it," according to team reporter Chris Wescott."Good last few days, good progress and he's getting closer to joining his teammates," Quenneville added.Crawford has been skating at training camp but has yet to take part in team drills. At the beginning of camp, he revealed he suffered a concussion in late December that kept him sidelined for the remainder of last season.If Crawford is unable to go for the opener, Cam Ward could get the nod. The veteran goaltender inked a one-year, $3-million deal with the Blackhawks this summer.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Scottie Upshall's shot at joining the Edmonton Oilers is over, as the veteran forward has been released from his professional tryout offer.Training camp got off to a tough start for Upshall. He failed his camp physical, which later revealed a knee injury. Although it was initially believed that the ailment would effectively end his camp tryout, Upshall was later cleared to resume participation.The 34-year-old spent the past three seasons with the St. Louis Blues. He wrapped up the 2017-18 campaign with 19 points in 63 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although Ryan Kesler has been limited to skating sessions at Anaheim Ducks training camp due to injury concerns, the forward received medical clearance to participate in contact drills Sunday."These are tests," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle told The Athletic's Eric Stephens. "That's all it is. It's a test. For any injured player coming back, it's an encouraging sign that he joined our group for practice. It's encouraging that he was able to battle in some battle drills and feel good after it."But it's still a test. Every day, he's going to be tested along the lines of is he able to compete? Is he being able to play pain-free? Is he able to have his strength and feel strong when he leaves the rink? That he's not jeopardizing himself."Kesler underwent hip surgery last June and didn't return to the lineup until late December. He appeared in 44 games last season, tallying eight goals and six assists while playing through plenty of discomfort.While there's no timetable for Kesler's return to the Ducks' lineup, Monday's update is seen as a breakthrough for the veteran forward. The possibility existed he could once again be sidelined long term in 2018-19.The 34-year-old is under contract for the next four seasons.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Recent NHL seasons have seen plenty of young talents make immediate impacts, but for other budding stars, a feeling-out process is needed before their teams see a return on investment.Whether it's adjusting to the speed, becoming more familiar with the North American rink, or simply finding comfort in playing the pro game, here are five players who have endured slow starts to their NHL careers but are destined for better times in 2018-19:Joel Eriksson EkOften criticized as an older club lacking offensive creativity, the next wave is on the way for the Minnesota Wild, headlined in part by Joel Eriksson Ek.The Swedish import and former first-round pick has spent the past two seasons in North America, and after getting his feet wet in 75 games with the Wild last year, Eriksson Ek is ready to make the next step.The 21-year-old made the Wild out of training camp last season but struggled to find his scoring touch, notching just three points in 20 games. By late November, a refresher in the minors was deemed necessary and later proved worthwhile, as Eriksson Ek posted a point-per-game pace over seven AHL contests.Later recalled to the big club, Eriksson Ek showed greater poise as he closed out the season with 13 points. For the coming campaign, he will have plenty of opportunities to build on last year's performance as he is expected to play among Minnesota's top nine forwards.Nolan PatrickJustin Berl / Getty Images Sport / GettyNew Jersey Devils forward Nico Hischier took Round 1 in the battle of the top two picks of the 2017 draft, but expect that gap to disappear this season.After posting just 11 points through his first 41 games, Philadelphia Flyers center Nolan Patrick found his footing in his final 32 contests, picking up nine goals and 10 assists. He then added another two points in the Flyers' first-round playoff exit.As the new season nears, and with Patrick projected as Philadelphia's second-line center, there will be plenty of support for the Manitoba product to not only avoid a sophomore slump but build on his successful second half.With the Flyers' first line expected to stay intact, look for Patrick to pivot between free-agent addition James van Riemsdyk, who potted 36 goals last season, and dominant playmaker Jakub Voracek, whose 65 assists were outpaced by only three players in 2017-18.Jesse PuljujarviCodie McLachlan / Getty Images Sport / GettyJesse Puljujarvi leads the next wave in the Edmonton Oilers' fountain of riches, and while he hasn't been immediately productive at the NHL level like many in his draft class, expect the Finnish winger to reach those heights this season.Puljujarvi disappointed when he didn't make the Oilers out of training camp a year ago, but after putting up five points through 10 AHL games, he was recalled to Edmonton just one month into the season. There was no looking back from there, as Puljujarvi finished the 2017-18 campaign with the Oilers, notching 12 goals and eight assists in 65 appearances.While his overall numbers don't equal the level of production expected from a high pick - Puljujarvi was drafted ahead of star talents like Matthew Tkachuk and Clayton Keller - he'll be provided with an expanded offensive role in 2018-19.The expectation is Puljujarvi could ride shotgun to center Leon Draisaitl, who has cracked the 70-point plateau in each of the past two seasons. There's also the possibility for some magic alongside Connor McDavid should the captain's chemistry with winger Ty Rattie fizzle out.Jack RoslovicKirk Irwin / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhile he won't be the focal point for the opposition, expect Jack Roslovic to fill an offensive role in the Winnipeg Jets' top nine.The 25th pick in 2015 already has two years of pro experience under his belt. He led the AHL's Manitoba Moose with 48 points in the 2016-17 campaign, proving he's ready for prime time.Last season, Roslovic split time between the Moose and the Jets, impressing with 35 points in just 32 games in the minors to earn a call-up to Winnipeg. That stretch included 10 appearances in the Jets' run to the Western Conference Final and gave the young forward a leg up in locking down a full-time spot for the coming season.There will be one change, however, as Roslovic, who played on the wing last season, is expected to compete for a job at center following the departure of deadline addition Paul Stastny.Daniel SprongBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyThere's no denying what Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby has achieved over his career; the seemingly constant challenge has been finding talented linemates that can mesh alongside the captain.The likes of Patric Hornqvist, Jake Guentzel, and the departed Conor Sheary have held those roles in recent seasons; however, there could be a new face this season in intriguing forward Daniel Sprong.Over the past two years, the Dutch-born winger has seen plenty of minutes sprinkled across junior, the minors, and Pittsburgh. The erratic winger boasts plenty of offensive skill, as he demonstrated with a point-per-game pace over 65 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season. But when called upon by the Penguins, Sprong has yet to deliver consistent production.Still, given his accomplishments in the minor ranks, Sprong is due for another shot at NHL duty and could have the chance to play alongside some exceptionally talented linemates in the process.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brian Gionta is officially hanging up the skates.After 16 seasons, the 39-year-old announced his retirement from the NHL on Monday at a press conference hosted by the Buffalo Sabres."I'm announcing my retirement today. (I am) looking forward to spending more time with my family and also playing a small part with the organization," Gionta said. "(I am) looking forward to that next step of my career."Gionta served as captain during his three seasons with the Sabres. He'll now be taking on a player development role with the organization. The native of Rochester, N.Y., called playing in nearby Buffalo a "highlight" of his career.Gionta began his NHL career in 2001 with the New Jersey Devils, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2003. His 48-goal output with the Devils in 2005-06 still stands as a franchise record.In all, Gionta posted 595 points across 1,026 career games with the Devils, Montreal Canadiens, Sabres, and Boston Bruins.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What ... is that thing?On Monday, the Philadelphia Flyers unveiled their new mascot, "Gritty", the franchise's first foray into a furry fanatic since the short-lived days of "Slapshot".While the Flyers are apparently satisfied with the look of their new friend, the response on social media wasn't nearly as positive:

Owen Tippett has been assigned to the Ontario Hockey League's Mississauga Steelheads, the Florida Panthers announced Monday.The 10th overall pick in the 2017 draft, Tippett had been vying for a roster spot at Panthers training camp.Tippett, 19, began last season with Florida, picking up one point in seven appearances. He was reassigned to Mississauga in November, where he finished the year with 75 points in 51 games.The Panthers also announced that they've released veteran forward Mark Letestu from his professional tryout offer.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A few former first-round picks need a little more seasoning.Forwards Josh Ho-Sang and Michael Dal Colle were among nine players cut from New York Islanders' training camp Monday.While Ho-Sang's camp performance impressed general manager Lou Lamoriello, his inability to lock down a roster spot may have been due to a jam-packed roster."We have a lot of guys under contract. We need to see what we have with them first," Lamoriello told The Athletic's Arthur Staple.Ho-Sang appeared in 22 games with the Islanders last season, notching two goals and 10 assists. New York selected Ho-Sang with the 28th pick in the 2014 draft."(I) thought he worked hard, gave us everything he had," Lamoriello added. "He just needs to go to the minors, he's got ability, go there and get over all these issues that I haven't seen, that transpired in the past. He's been excellent in camp. Just go grow and get better."The fifth-overall pick in 2014, Dal Colle now enters his third full season with the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The 22-year-old recorded 24 points in 60 games last season. He also made four appearances with the Islanders but was held off the scoresheet.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tavares met with six clubs in the lead up to free agency, but the Montreal Canadiens weren't one of them.When July 1 arrived, the former New York Islanders captain signed a seven-year, $77-million deal with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, spurring pursuits from the Islanders, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, and Tampa Bay Lightning.Asked Monday why he rebuffed an opportunity to meet with the Canadiens ahead of free agency, Tavares said, "I can only play for one team. I'm not here to make everyone happy. I had to do what's best for me, and I felt this situation was the perfect fit for me and the right timing in my career," per Sportsnet's Luke Fox."I felt humbled to have the interest I had," Tavares added. "You feel very fortunate to be in the position I was in. I met with the teams I felt were in the best situations that could be good fits for me and see what there was to offer."The Canadiens are in Toronto for Monday's preseason date with the rival Maple Leafs. It marks the first of two exhibition matches between the two squads before they face off in their Oct. 3 season opener.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leading up to the start of the 2018-19 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by four of our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every weekday until the top 10 is unveiled on Oct. 3.100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-180. Corey Crawford, BlackhawksWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman83747393The Blackhawks had seven different goalies take the net last season and Crawford was the only one to have a winning record. In missing all but 28 games, he proved his worth to the team. Prior to last season, Crawford had recorded 131 wins since the 2013-14 season, the third-most in the NHL during that span. -- Hagerman79. Sebastian Aho, HurricanesWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman92857669Aho collected as many points at even-strength (49) last season as he did in all situations in his rookie campaign of 2016-17, improving his overall goal (29) and point (65) totals in the process. He drove possession at 54.83 percent, according to Corsica, and he's one of the most talented and unheralded young players in the NHL. -- Gold-SmithClaus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty78. Mitch Marner, Maple LeafsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman68808192Marner bounced back from a painfully slow start to collect 53 points in his final 53 games and continued that strong play into the postseason, where he was arguably Toronto's best player. He's characterized as an offense-first player, but finished fourth in the league with 85 takeaways. Slated to play alongside John Tavares this season, he could be in for a career year. -- Wegman77. William Karlsson, Golden KnightsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman81898061Only Alex Ovechkin and Patrik Laine scored more goals than Karlsson last season. In his first campaign playing top-six minutes, the former Blue Jacket obliterated his previous career high of nine goals. He followed that up with 15 playoff points in 20 games. Karlsson also features prominently on the club's penalty kill. -- Hagerman76. Ryan Suter, WildAbbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman37NR7986Suter has been one of the league's best scoring-chance suppressors throughout his career, and last season was no different. Offensively, he may not be as flashy as some of today's younger defensemen, but he still quietly registered 51 points. A perennial workhorse, only Drew Doughty averaged more ice time last season. -- Wegman75. Mark Giordano, FlamesWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman784378NRGiordano is a rock on the Flames' back end, finishing 12th in the NHL in average ice time at 24:47 a season ago, and he's missed only one game over the last three campaigns combined. While he likely won't return to the offensive numbers he produced in his prime, the soon-to-be 35-year-old is still a steadying force on Calgary's blue line. -- Gold-Smith74. Mikko Rantanen, AvalancheBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman87876857After a respectable rookie campaign, Rantanen took his game to another level last season. He potted 84 points and was instrumental in Nathan MacKinnon's MVP caliber season factoring in on 51 of his 97 points. He has an elite release, vision, and patience, making him a tremendous offensive threat. -- Hagerman73. Colton Parayko, BluesWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman79647478Parayko has it all. Standing in at 6-foot-6, he possesses the tools to dominate physically, but also excels at moving the puck and owns a booming point shot. At only 25, it's scary that he still has room to grow. -- O'Leary72. Marc-Andre Fleury, Golden KnightsIsaac Brekken / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman73626496After 13 years of adoration in Pittsburgh, no one really knew what to expect from Fleury as he donned Vegas colors, but having the best season of his career was a good way to acclimate himself to his new fanbase. The 33-year-old authored a .927 save percentage in both the regular season and playoffs, quickly establishing himself as the heart and soul of the Golden Knights. -- O'Leary71. Mattias Ekholm, PredatorsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman70767274Ekholm doesn't get as much love as the three other members of the Predators' top-four on defense, but he's a solid all-around blue-liner who's just as - if not more - effective in his own end as he is in the offensive zone. Ekholm will occasionally wow you, but even when he doesn't, he contributes to Nashville's success in myriad ways. -- Gold-SmithCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues may have avoided a scare.Forward Robby Fabbri left Sunday's preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a lower-body injury, but head coach Mike Yeo confirmed the ailment isn't related to his surgically-repaired knee.Fabbri suffered a torn ACL toward the end of the 2016-17 season and re-injured the knee last September, causing him to miss the entire 2017-18 campaign.In 123 career games, Fabbri, a first-round pick in 2014, has recorded 29 goals and 66 points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Logan Brown will begin the 2018-19 campaign in the minors.The 11th overall pick in the 2016 entry draft was among 15 players cut from Ottawa Senators training camp Sunday, bringing the camp squad to 27 skaters and three goaltenders.The 20-year-old Brown was expected to be one of many young players to fill a role for Ottawa this year, a chance that may now only come as a call-up.Brown split last season between the OHL's Kitchener Rangers and Windsor Spitfires, picking up 48 points in just 32 games. He also notched one assist in four appearances with the Senators.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens and forward Paul Byron have agreed to a four-year, $13.6-million contract extension, the team announced Sunday.Byron's new deal will pay him $3.4 million annually beginning in 2019-20, when he was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. Until then, he'll count for $1.116 million against Montreal's cap as he plays out the final season of his current contract.The 29-year-old joined the Canadiens in 2015-16, and last season marked his second consecutive 20-goal campaign.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After two tornadoes twisted through the Ottawa, Ontario, and Gatineau, Quebec region on Friday evening, the Ottawa Senators are looking to help the victims of the natural disaster.The Senators Foundation has started a GoFundMe campaign to help raise money for those affected by the tornadoes, the team announced. The starting goal is set at $25,000, and the Sens Foundation will match that total once it has been reached. As of Saturday night, it is already less than $5,000 away from reaching that mark.The devastating tragedy left more than 100,000 homes and businesses without power, and it may take days before it's restored, according to the Ottawa Citizen. Twenty people were taken to hospital, but there have been no reports of fatalities or missing people.

The New Jersey Devils re-signed restricted free-agent forward Miles Wood to a four-year contract, the team announced Saturday.The deal reportedly comes with an average annual value of $2.75 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Wood was one of many young Devils to enjoy a breakout season in 2017-18, tallying 19 goals - good for fourth on the team - and 13 assists in 76 games.The 23-year-old possesses a rare combination of speed, physicality, and a nose for the net, as he also recorded 75 hits and a team-leading 84 penalty minutes.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks have held plenty of contract negotiations this offseason, but that apparently doesn't include talks with their captain.Joe Pavelski's agent, Dan Plante, recently revealed as much to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz."Since there hasn't been a whole lot of talks about a contract extension at all, I would say that they are lukewarm or tepid, at best," Plante said. "It's really kind of non-existent, so maybe non-existent is a better word."Pavelski's representative added that his client would like to stay in San Jose, but they haven't seen much progress on that front."Joe would love to have something done," he said. "The fact of the matter is (Sharks general manager) Doug (Wilson) and I have had a longstanding relationship, Doug and I have done a lot of contracts together, we know each other pretty well. But, again, there hasn't been anything to give me the idea that anything is imminent in any way, shape or form."Pavelski is entering the final season of the five-year, $30-million pact he inked with the Sharks in the summer of 2013. It carries a cap hit of $6 million.The 34-year-old has played his entire 12-year career with San Jose, and he's served as the team's captain for the last three. Pavelski ranks second on the Sharks' all-time goals list, third in assists, third in points, and fourth in games played.San Jose signed center Logan Couture to an eight-year extension on July 1 after securing Evander Kane's services with a seven-year extension in late May. After trading for Erik Karlsson last week, Wilson said he envisions the superstar defenseman as part of San Jose's long-term plans.Pavelski posted 22 goals and 66 points while appearing in all 82 regular-season games last season. He added a pair of goals and eight points in 10 playoff contests.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils could be on the verge of securing the services of their lone training camp holdout.Negotiations between the Devils and restricted free agent forward Miles Wood have become serious and a new deal could be imminent, a source with knowledge of the talks told NJ Advance Media's Chris Ryan on Saturday.The two sides didn't engage in any serious dialogue leading up to camp, and Wood has been absent for the start of the preseason as a result.He ranked fourth on the Devils with 19 goals last season, his second campaign with New Jersey.Wood was a fourth-round pick of the club in 2013.Three other NHL RFAs remain as the regular season approaches: William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore, and Nick Ritchie of the Anaheim Ducks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed forward Semyon Der-Arguchintsev to a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday, the team announced.He's coming off his second season with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League where he put up 12 goals and 51 points in 68 games.Der-Arguchintsev was drafted in the third round, 76th overall, in this past June's draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mike Green could be out for the start of the regular season as he deals with a virus, head coach Jeff Blashill said Friday."He's got a virus that attacked his liver, so he's seen an infectious disease (specialist) today and we should know more here in the next little bit. I don't know how long he's going to be out," Blashill said, according to MLive's Ansar Khan.Green had surgery in April for a herniated disc but his current ailment is unrelated, according to general manager Ken Holland."The day before camp he saw the doctor in New York on his neck, he was totally cleared, cleared for contact," Holland said. "The plan was to ramp him up and play him the two of the last three preseason games. As we got into camp and were on the ice two, three, four days he didn't feel like he had his energy, he felt a little bit fatigued. Our doctors did some initial bloodwork, and now we're trying to get him to see a doctor today or Monday gather more information."Green signed a two-year, $10.75-million contract in July to stick with the Red Wings. Last season, the 32-year-old recorded eight goals and 25 assists in 66 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens forward Max Domi spoke for the first time since being suspended for the remainder of the preseason for punching Florida Panthers blue-liner Aaron Ekblad.As transcribed by Stu Cowan of The Montreal Gazette, Domi said:

Aaron Ekblad didn't hold back Friday when asked about Max Domi's punch on Wednesday night that earned the Montreal Canadiens forward a suspension for the rest of the preseason.

Leading up to the start of the 2018-19 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by four of our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every weekday until the top 10 is unveiled on Oct. 3.100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-190. Brayden Point, LightningWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman82938783Point took a huge step last season after an admirable rookie campaign. He hit the 30-goal mark for the first time, finishing second on the club behind only Nikita Kucherov, while contributing 66 points. He put up another 16 points in 17 playoff games. -- Hagerman89. Jonathan Toews, BlackhawksWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagermanNR689181Despite a decline in production over recent years, Toews has the benefit of an impeccable resume to back his case as one of the league's best players. He may not be winning Conn Smythes anymore, but Toews remains one of the game's most recognizable faces and can be depended on in all situations. -- O'Leary88. Joe Pavelski, SharksEthan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman63998297Pavelski's performance has declined over the past two seasons, but he remains one of the NHL's most durable, versatile, and consistent two-way forwards. -- Wegman87. Nikolaj Ehlers, JetsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman89919070Ehlers is one of the most dynamic young talents in the NHL and is a key cog in the Jets' overwhelming offense. He skates with blistering pace and racked up 29 goals last season despite averaging only 16 minutes of ice time per game. The sky is the limit. -- O'Leary86. Hampus Lindholm, DucksBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman7165NRNRLindholm is a piece every NHL team would covet for their blue line. The swift-skating 24-year-old drives possession effectively and can be used dependably in all scenarios. He also poured in a career-high 13 goals last season despite playing just 69 games. -- O'Leary85. Marc-Edouard Vlasic, SharksWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagermanNR818567Vlasic has become one of the premiere defensive defensemen in the league. He's remained disciplined despite his rugged style of play, taking just two minor penalties during the 2017-18 season, and both were for a delay of game. Meanwhile, he played 72.3 percent of his five-on-five ice time against opposing top-six forwards, the fourth-highest percentage in the NHL. -- Hagerman84. Jonathan Marchessault, Golden KnightsEthan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman76907789The Florida Panthers probably weren't expecting Marchessault to repeat his 30-goal 2016-17 season when they exposed him in the expansion draft, but he nearly matched it with the Vegas Golden Knights. Marchessault poured in 27 goals and piled up a career-high 75 points in 77 games, and was even better in the playoffs. He's the real deal. -- Gold-Smith83. Tuukka Rask, BruinsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman90788477Rask appeared in fewer games over an 82-game schedule last season (54) than he's played since 2011-12. However, he proved he's still a reliable goaltender when healthy, posting a .917 save percentage and a better high-danger save percentage than Connor Hellebuyck and Frederik Andersen, per Corsica. The 31-year-old remains a model of consistency. -- Gold-Smith82. Eric Staal, WildClaus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman72NR8964The eldest Staal brother is coming off a bounce-back season for the ages, finishing fourth in the league with 42 goals. An inflated 17.4 shooting percentage played a part, but he's undoubtedly reestablished himself as one of the league's premier power forwards. -- Wegman81. Mikael Granlund, WildWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman69NR8371Granlund is at least partially responsible for Staal's reemergence. Since moving from center to the wing prior to the 2016-17 season, the highly-skilled Finn has collected 136 points in 158 games, proving to be the driving force of the Wild's offensive attack. -- WegmanCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While settling into his new surroundings on the West Coast, newcomer Erik Karlsson shed some light on the longstanding disconnect between himself and the Ottawa Senators' front office, which culminated in last week's trade to the San Jose Sharks."I haven't spoken to any of them really since November of last year when they asked for my no-trade list," the star defenseman told Postmedia's Michael Traikos. "That's the way it is, I guess. That's the only situation I know that's been like this. It was what it was. I was there to play hockey and I did that to the best of my ability with what we had. That's all that I worried about."Everything else around it is above my pay grade. That's not my question to ask."At the time, Karlsson downplayed the significance of submitting his no-trade list, simply calling it a contractual obligation. And he ultimately stuck with the Senators beyond the trade deadline until the end of the season.Still, if there was indeed no contact between Senators' brass and their captain for the last 10 months, that would mean the club later offered Karlsson a contract extension, reportedly worth $10 million per season, without any direct communication.Karlsson played nine seasons in Canada's capital, earning two Norris Trophies and four first-team All-Star selections while collecting 518 points in 627 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville isn't ruling out the possibility of the club's No. 8 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, Adam Boqvist, making the team out of training camp."I'm not throwing that out of the realm of possibility," Quenneville told The Athletic's Mark Lazerus on Thursday.Boqvist, a right-handed shooting defenseman, is just 18 years old and is listed at anywhere between 154 and 170 lbs. Having him on the team's opening-day lineup may seem premature, but he might be their best option.Defenseman Gustav Forsling underwent offseason wrist surgery and isn't expected back until mid-November. Meanwhile, fellow blue-liner Connor Murphy is expected to miss at least the first month of the season with a back injury.Here's how Daily Faceoff projects the Blackhawks' blue line:LDRDDuncan KeithHenri JokiharjuErik GustafssonBrent SeabrookBrandon ManningJan RuttaIf Boqvist wins a job out of camp, Chicago could play him for up to nine games before burning a year off his entry-level contract. In theory, this nine-game audition could provide the team with depth on the blue line while Forsling and Murphy recover from their injuries.Boqvist played overseas in Sweden for his draft year, but would join the OHL's London Knights for the 2018-19 campaign if he doesn't make the Blackhawks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock will seemingly take a different approach to his power play this season.Auston Matthews will join a stacked top unit featuring Morgan Rielly, Mitch Marner, Nazem Kadri, and John Tavares, reports TSN's Mark Masters.For the past two seasons, Matthews was relegated to second power-play unit duties, while Rielly, Marner, and Kadri were joined by departed forwards Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk.Matthews doesn't believe loading up so heavily on one unit will be problematic."Look at Pittsburgh's power play," he said to reporters. "They do pretty well for themselves."The Penguins' power play, which features Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel, operated at a league-best 26.2 percent last season. Toronto was second at 24.9 percent.As for the positioning, Rielly will patrol the top of the umbrella, flanked by Marner to his right and Matthews to his left, according to Masters. Kadri will man the middle while Tavares serves as the net-front presence - a role he told Babcock he wanted to play during the free-agency recruitment process.Tavares doesn't have a lot of experience filling the net-front spot, but he did rack up 30 points with the man advantage last season - a mark that would've led the Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens forward Max Domi has been suspended for the remainder of the preseason for roughing Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad in Wednesday night's preseason game, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Thursday.Domi was assessed a match penalty for punching Ekblad in the face early in the third period.The Canadiens have five preseason games remaining, including Thursday night's contest against the Washington Capitals.

To properly understand the perpetual infancy of Japanese hockey, consider the strange case of 1974 NHL draft pick Taro Tsujimoto.Tsujimoto, an imaginary hockey player from Tokyo - literally created out of thin air in the middle of a professional sports league draft - was selected in the 11th round, 183rd overall, by his inventor, "bored" Buffalo Sabres general manager Punch Imlach. In the days following the draft, Imlach strung along media and fans, insisting Tsujimoto would be Buffalo-bound in due time. Spoiler: The kid never showed.It's one of the strangest tales in hockey history and, in a roundabout fashion, remains symbolic of Japan's very, very long-distance relationship with the National Hockey League.Only two real Japanese nationals have been selected by NHL teams since Tsujimoto: Defenseman Hiroyuki Miura went in the 11th round to the Montreal Canadiens in 1992, and in 2004, the Los Angeles Kings used an eighth-round pick on goalie Yutaka Fukufuji.Meanwhile, there is no question China - the Asian powerhouse with a population of nearly 1.4 billion people - is the NHL's next frontier, as evidenced by this past week's pair of exhibition games in Shenzhen and Beijing, Gary Bettman dropping hints about holding regular-season games there, and Wayne Gretzky shaking hands.The last Winter Games were hosted by neighbor South Korea and the 2022 Olympics will be in Beijing. So hockey in Japan must at least be benefiting from its proximity … right?"Many people see Japanese hockey that way, but it was actually bigger before," Hiroki Wakabayashi, a globetrotting professional goalie coach originally from Osaka, told theScore. "It's actually (trending) down quite a bit right now."Enter Yushiroh Hirano. Born, raised, and trained in Japan, the 23-year-old winger will be making the trip from Japan to the United States this weekend to compete for an AHL job in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.Youngstown PhantomsThe Pittsburgh Penguins' top farm club was intrigued enough by the late-blooming prospect's upside to offer him a professional tryout. The AHL may not be the pinnacle of the sport, and there are no contractual guarantees for unsigned players, but success is relative."If he does well at the AHL level, or even the East Coast level, there's going to be more eyes towards Japan looking for players," said Chris Wakabayashi (no relation to Hiroki), who coached Hirano in the Asia League the past two years. "It's like Hideo Nomo when he first came over to the major leagues. That opened the door."__________If there is indeed a door to be opened, it's safe to assume Hirano will not tiptoe through the entrance. His 6-foot-1, 216-pound frame, snarling on-ice presence, and ability to shoot a hockey puck aren't the most subtle combination.Hirano's shot is the stuff of legend. It is his weapon, his calling card, and a general hazard to netminders. While playing for the Youngstown Phantoms in 2015, he sent the opposing goalie to the trainer's room with a mangled mask."I gave Yush a pass like 10 feet inside the blue line and he just lined up and ripped a slap shot," recalled Chase Pearson, Hirano's linemate on the Phantoms. "It hit the goalie square in the mask and broke the front metal part in half."The goalie had to leave the game because he got cut. I think the entire rink went quiet because the impact of the puck was so loud."Video footage of the blast is nowhere to be found online. However, the game report indicates Hirano scored seven seconds after the injured goaltender's exit, capitalizing on a clearly cold (and perhaps frightened) backup.Then 20 years old, Hirano skated in 54 games and finished the 2015-16 season with 46 points - 24 of them goals, and many of those no-doubters. Fittingly enough for someone with his skill set, Hirano counts Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos as two of his favorite players.

After 11 NHL seasons, Ondrej Pavelec is calling it a career.

As a season filled with uncertainty surrounding Artemi Panarin's future draws near, don't count on Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen rushing to move his superstar winger.Panarin is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in July 2019, and he's already stated he won't discuss a contract extension during the season. Kekalainen's next move is unclear, but he's seemingly made it known that Panarin isn't on the trade block.TSN's Darren Dreger said Wednesday on "Insider Trading" that Kekalainen "has no interest in trading him and his principle point of interest is trying to convince him to re-sign."Panarin arrived in Columbus via trade in 2017 and registered a career-high 82 points in his first season with Blue Jackets before adding seven more in six playoff contests. With him in the fold, Columbus has a significant chance at competing again in the Metropolitan Division but faces the risk of losing him for nothing if he decides to bolt in free agency.Columbus faces a similar predicament with all-world goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who is also a UFA in 2019 and said at the start of training camp that he's already informed the team of his future plans.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Erik Karlsson wants to ink a max deal with his new team, he'll have to wait a while.The superstar defenseman cannot sign an eight-year contract extension with the San Jose Sharks until after the 2018-19 trade deadline on Feb 25, according to a CBA rule unearthed by The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.LeBrun cited page 285 of the NHL-NHLPA agreement, and specifically Rule 50.8, subsection (b) (iv), which states:

Leading up to the start of the 2018-19 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by four of our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every weekday until the top 10 is unveiled on Oct. 3.100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1100. Matt Murray, PenguinsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagermanNR949991Murray faced some adversity last season in his debut test as the Pittsburgh Penguins' true starter, but the 24-year-old has established himself as one of the league's premier netminders on the strength of a .923 career postseason save percentage and two Stanley Cup rings. -- O'Leary99. Aaron Ekblad, PanthersWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagermanNRNR9884In just four NHL seasons, Ekblad has already emerged as one of the most well-rounded defenders in the game. His 16 goals last season tied for the second most among all defensemen league-wide, and he also logged the most minutes on the penalty kill of any Panthers blue-liner. -- Hagerman98. Devan Dubnyk, WildWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman93NRNR88Since 2014-15, Dubnyk has cemented himself as one of the NHL's best goaltenders, posting a .922 save percentage and a 2.30 goals-against average in that span. Last season wasn't necessarily his best campaign, but any team would take a .918 save percentage from its netminder in an "off year." -- Wegman97. Jonathan Huberdeau, PanthersWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagermanNR969487Huberdeau is one of the league's most overlooked playmakers, as he uses his exceptional hand-eye coordination to generate scoring chances and convert them consistently. He poured in a career-high 27 goals and 42 assists last season while playing in all 82 games for the first time, and the six-year veteran is still only 25, so don't be surprised if he keeps improving. -- Gold-Smith96. Viktor Arvidsson, PredatorsFrederick Breedon / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman998492NRArvidsson has scored 60 goals with 62 assists over the last two years. A fourth-round pick in 2014, the 5-foot-9 speedster plays with the high motor you'd expect from a late-round pick. The winger is also one of the league's best penalty killers, having scored more shorthanded goals (eight) than any other player over the past two seasons. -- Wegman95. Morgan Rielly, Maple LeafsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman968397100Rielly's game elevated to new heights in 2017-18, as he racked up a career-high 52 points, including 25 on the power play. And at five-on-five, he fared relatively well against opponents' top lines, driving possession at a 50.84 percent rate despite starting the bulk of his shifts in the defensive zone, per Corsica. -- Wegman94. Brayden Schenn, BluesClaus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman94NR9385A proven scorer and a versatile two-way center, Schenn drove possession (54.63) and posted 70 points while logging more average ice time than Evgeni Malkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov in his first season with the St. Louis Blues. He should continue to grow in 2018-19, especially considering the Blues' new additions. -- Gold-Smith93. Alexander Radulov, StarsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagermanNR979566After joining the Stars last offseason, Radulov helped form one of the top trios in the NHL alongside Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. He has all the tools to be a lethal point producer and averaged the second-most points per 60 minutes on the club at five-on-five, behind only Benn. -- Hagerman92. Charlie McAvoy, BruinsMaddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman88888890In just one NHL season, McAvoy proved he has all the tools to eventually challenge for a Norris Trophy. He has a smooth stride, is a strong defender, and above all else, he's an elite offensive player. The 20-year-old finished fifth in Calder Trophy voting last season despite missing 19 games due to injury. -- Hagerman91. Shea Weber, CanadiensWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman65988698Weber could be on the shelf until mid-December, but he's an anchor on the blue line when healthy. With an accurate, blistering point shot and undeniable power-play quarterbacking abilities, the veteran is still an impact player, even at his age. -- Gold-SmithCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens forward Max Domi will have a hearing Thursday for his punch to Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad on Wednesday, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced.Domi - who was making his Canadiens preseason debut - was assessed a two-minute minor for roughing and a match penalty after punching an unsuspecting Ekblad early in the third period of Wednesday's preseason contest.Related: Luongo calls Domi's punch on Ekblad 'gutless' Luckily for Ekblad - who missed the remainder of the game - he didn't sustain any serious injuries on the play.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL regular season doesn't begin for another two weeks and there's already bad blood between two divisional foes.During Wednesday's preseason meeting between the Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens, Max Domi was ejected for sucker-punching Aaron Ekblad.Panthers veteran netminder Roberto Luongo took no time sharing his feelings on the play."It was a bit of a gutless play. You don't do those types of things," Luongo told reporters postgame, per Sportsnet. "I'm sure the league will look at it, and we definitely won't forget about it."You don't do that. You respect your opponents, and if your opponent doesn't want to engage in a fight, that's no reason to drop your glove and punch him square in the face for no reason."The Canadiens and Panthers will play four times this season, but the first meeting isn't until Dec. 28 in Florida.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad looks to have avoided any serious injury following a punch from Montreal Canadiens forward Max Domi on Wednesday night.Related: Canadiens' Domi given match penalty after punching EkbladFollowing the game, Panthers head coach Bob Boughner told reporters that Ekblad was removed from the game by the league to determine if he'd suffered a concussion. The 22-year-old managed to avoid sustaining a concussion, or a broken nose, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu.The news comes as a huge relief for the Panthers and their fans as Ekblad has a history of concussions.As for Domi, he was assessed a match penalty on the play, while the NHL's Department of Player Safety is reportedly reviewing the infraction, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost several veteran forwards to free agency this offseason, and while John Tavares was brought in, the team will rely on younger players to fill out depth roles this year.Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson will both be relied upon as lineup regulars for the 2018-19 campaign, but after Wednesday night's preseason game against the Ottawa Senators, head coach Mike Babcock wasn't very impressed with what he saw out of the two youngsters."They've got to be real important players for us, so I expect a lot out of those guys," Babcock said, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "They've got more to give, for sure."Kapanen and Johnsson were held without a point Wednesday and combined for just two shots. Both forwards played pivotal roles for the Maple Leafs down the stretch last season.After registering 24 points in 28 games with the AHL's Toronto Marlies last year, the 22-year-old Kapanen suited up in 38 games with the big club, tallying seven goals and two assists.Johnsson, 23, also tore up the AHL, racking up 54 points in as many games before his call-up, during which he recorded three points in nine games and added two more in six postseason contests.Daily Faceoff projects the two wingers will flank Nazem Kadri on Toronto's third line, but it's possible more ice time will be in the forecast if William Nylander's contract holdout continues into the season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Max Domi made an early exit from his Montreal Canadiens preseason debut.The forward was given a two-minute minor for roughing and a match penalty after punching Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad less than a minute into the third period of Wednesday's preseason tilt.The infraction will be looked at by the NHL's Department of Player Safety, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. As for Ekblad, he did not return to the game, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.Domi was acquired from the Arizona Coyotes this offseason in a trade that sent forward Alex Galchenyuk to the desert.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL isn't worried that any behind-the-scenes business factored into Henrik Zetterberg ending his playing career and landing on the Detroit Red Wings' long-term injured reserve for the remaining three seasons of his contract.The club announced Sept. 14 that the 37-year-old's days on the ice were finished due to his back condition. Zetterberg signed a 12-year, $73-million contract in 2009, which carries a cap hit of just over $6 million until 2021. However, Zetterberg's salary declines to $3.35 million for the 2018-19 season, and then falls to $1 million in real dollars for the final two seasons of his pact.NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league investigated the contract when it was initially signed."We wanted to understand the motivations, what was discussed, everything about that," Daly told Craig Custance of The Athletic. "We were ultimately very satisfied that there was no precooked deal that after 'Year X' he was going to leave, go into retirement, and the club is going to benefit because of that."Zetterberg hadn't missed a game in three consecutive seasons, but Daly is also convinced of the severity of the player's back problems. However, he acknowledged the league will likely investigate to make sure the medical issue is legitimate."We don't question it by any means," Daly said. "We know he's been suffering and it's been a significant issue for a number of years going back to the Olympics. He couldn't even participate in the Olympics. You know it had to be a serious injury. I have no doubt to the bona fides of the situation. But will we (investigate) to make sure we check the boxes? Probably."Prior to puck drop last season, the league handled a similar scenario with Marian Hossa, whom the Chicago Blackhawks placed on LTIR due to a skin condition with four years remaining on his contract. After an investigation, the transaction was ultimately approved.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Restricted free-agent forward Sam Reinhart has signed a two-year extension with the Buffalo Sabres, the club announced Wednesday.The deal is reportedly worth $3.65 million per season, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Reinhart appeared in all 82 games for the Sabres last season, notching career highs with 25 goals and 50 points.With Reinhart's contract done, just four RFAs remain: Anaheim's Nick Ritchie, New Jersey's Miles Wood, Toronto's William Nylander, and Vegas' Shea Theodore.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with forward Ty Dellandrea, the team announced Wednesday.The Stars selected Dellandrea with the 13th overall pick in last year's draft.Dellandrea has spent the past two seasons with the OHL's Flint Firebirds. He finished second in team scoring last year with 59 points in 67 games.The 18-year-old appeared in his first NHL preseason game Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues, registering one shot in just under 10 minutes of playing time.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another awkward interview moment for the Ottawa Senators' front office.Just over a week after team owner Eugene Melnyk gave an uncomfortable interview with defenseman Mark Borowiecki, Senators general manager Pierre Dorion spoke to Sportsnet's Dave Amber and Elliotte Friedman during the first intermission of Tuesday's preseason contest between the Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs.Things appeared to be going well until Amber asked Dorion what he's optimistic about this season, causing the general manager to pause before answering.

John Tavares will take the ice for his first preseason game as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators, and he expects to have a bit of a pit in his stomach ahead of game time."Any time I play, there are always jitters. That's a feeling you have as a hockey player from the time you're a kid until now," Tavares said, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton. "The first game of the year is always that same kind of butterfly excitement and getting ready to be in that mindset again, that mentality you get into. When you haven't played in a while, it's very fresh."Tavares is expected to slot alongside Mitch Marner and Zach Hyman on Tuesday night in what may be a preview of what's to come when the regular season kicks off.The centerman is excited to be playing games with a more competitive edge after taking part in team scrimmages recently."It's nice to get back into that competitiveness and a lot of those little things that you need to get prepared," he said. "No matter what, when you play you want to win. So no matter when it is you go out there, play hard and carry over a lot of things you're working on and preaching to keep building ourselves up to the regular season."Tavares will dress in his first regular-season game with the Maple Leafs when they open the season on Oct. 3 against the Montreal Canadiens.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey Twitter was abuzz Tuesday upon learning Jagermeister will be the new "official shot" of the NHL.

The Vegas Golden Knights continue to break the mold, even as they prepare for their second season in the NHL.William Hill U.S. announced Tuesday it will form the first-ever partnership between a sports book and an NHL team by collaborating with the Golden Knights.It is a multi-year partnership that will involve engaging with fans of legal betting age through various promotional platforms, including a TV-visible dasherboard, in-arena signage, league-wide odds displayed on the T-Mobile Arena video board during intermissions, and mentions of the sports book on Golden Knights line changes.William Hill was founded in the United Kingdom, where it still generates most of its revenue, in 1934. It operates over 100 race and sports books in Nevada and is the state's leading mobile sports betting app.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.